Typewriting machine



' JJ, BT'SMITH TYPEWRITING mum Nov. 2

Filed Dec. 125192; Y 2 iz'eets -sheet 1" J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRI'IING mourns Nov. 29,1927.

Filed Dec. 12, 1923 2' Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 29, 1927.

UNITED s'ra'ras rAreu'r orrlce.

Jesse A. '3. stains, on swims-om), CONNECTICUT, assrenon' T UNDERWOOD TYPE; warren COMPANY, or new YORK, N. Y., A conronarron OEDELAWARE,

'rfl'nwnxrme MACHINE.

Application filed December 12,1923. Serial No. eso,i54.

This invention relates to t pewriting mas chines, and more particular y to machines especially adapted for writing checks or similar instruments and for making a copy on a 5 continuous record-sheet ot' a part of the mat-- ter typed on each check of a series.

In writing checks it-is customary to insert each check in the typewriter and type two lines upon it. The first line consists of the name of the payee and the numerals indicating the amount for which the check is drawn, and the second line consists of a statement of the amount for which the check is drawn, spelled outin full. It is desirable to keep a condensed record of the checks by copying on a record-sheet the first typewritten line only, of each check. With this end in view, there is provided, in addition to the usual ribbon mechanism for Writing on the faces of the checks, an auxiliary ribbon behind the checks but in front of the recordsheet, and mechanism to move'the ribbon to and from effective position.

A machine having auxiliary ribbon mechanism of this type is disclosed in the application of Alfred G. F Kurowski, Serial No. 589,06 filed September 19, 1922, now'Pat- "ent No. 1,564,861, dated December 8, 1925. The improvements-of the present invention ,are shown as applied to a machine of the kind disclosed in said application. In the ,Kurowski machine the auxiliary ribbon was carried by ribbon-spools mounted in a ribbon-frame pivoted on the platen-frame. 35 The ribbon-frame was arranged .to be lows ered to locate the ribbon in operative position as an incident of making thefeed-rolls eiiective. following insertion of a check to writing position. and Was-arranged to be automatically withdrawn from operative po-.

sition by the actuation of the line-spacing lever at the conclusion of writing the first line on the check. During the insertion o a check in the machine the ribbon Was in t5 i inefiective position'at some little distance frornthe platen and so was apt to catch up' on the edge of thech'eck inserted first into the machine.

One object of the present invention is to provide efiicient me'a'nsfpr holding the r 1b-'- bon down to the platen inboth its effective and ineffective positions,'so-thatthe checks may be inserted from either the front or the rear of the ,platen to writ-in position without danger of fouling the ri .bon.

Another object of the invention-is to provlde means for clamping 'the record-sheet fast against the platen to preventaccidental shifting of the record-sheet while the main feed-rolls are cast oif.

, 1th these objects in view, provision may made of a front rod or bar having rib- ,zhon-guidebrackets rotatably mounted upon it. These brackets are equipped with guides which may be utilized both to guide the margins of the record-sheet, and also to overlie the auxiliary ribbon to guide it close to the platen at all'times. Auxiliary rolls carried by the guides bear upon the margins ofthe-record-sheet to clamp them against the platen. In order that the clamping pressure may be sufficient to hold the recordsheet stationary when the main feed-rolls.

are cast off, each of the brackets is urged with considerable torcein a direction to press its auxiliary roll against the platen by a coil spring connected atone end to the rod and at the other end to the bracket. Rotation of the brackets about the rod is limited by engagement of the rolls with the platen, and the guides, themselves are arranged to be spaced just far enough from the platen when the rolls are thus engaged to' a 0rd an easy clearance for the ribbon in its movements between effective and ineffective positions.

The ribbon-spools of the auxiliary ribbonframe lie between the rod and the ends of the platen-frame and therefore prevent the direct connection of the rod to the platenframe. In accordance with one feature of the invention, provision is made of U-shaped rod-supporting arms pivoted at their outer ends in bearings on the platen-frame and arranged to pass around the ribbon-spools 9 vided on the rod, one adjacent eachof the guide brackets, to engage the brackets and limitunwinding of the coil springs when the 4 for erasures.

? feeding forward of the checks.

rod is rotated, so that the brackets will be caused to turn with the rod.

To enable the brackets to co-operate in this nrann wi h the fixed stops, they are secured against e wise movement on the rod. Provision is made, however, of means for securing the ribbon-guides in various adjusted positions along the ribbon guide brackets to provide room between them for the insertion of checks of various widths, and yet to cause them to engagethe ribbon as'near to the side edges of the checks as practicable.

' In accordance with one feature of the invention, provision is made of a front align: ing plate for the checks, which is also modiited on the rod that supports the ribbon-guide brackets. The aligning plate has a side-.

' tion to the rod, so that it may be swung up out of the way independently of rotation of the rod to leave the'record-sheet accessible Other features and advantages will hereinafter appean' In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing part of themachine with" the present improvements applied thereto.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective showing the details of construction of the ribbon-guide-supporting means.

Figure 3 is a fragmentaryplan view show ing the means for supporting the ribbonguides and clamping rolls. 7

Figure 4 is a longitudinal Vertical section on the line 14 of Figure 1, showing the auxiliary ribbon in effective position.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section on theline 5-5 of Figure 1, showing the auxiliary ribbon in its ineffective position The typewriting machine to which the present improvements are applied is provided with the usual main ribbon 10, which is fed back and forth between spools (not shown) and is threaded through a ribbon vibrator 11, between a type-guide 12 and the platen 13, in position to be struck by the types 14 for making impressions on the paper in the machine. -The machine is equipped with a wire paper-guide 15 to guide the front-inserted checks A, clear of the main. ribbon 10, and with forwardlyflaring wing-scales 16 to facilitate the front insertion of the checks between the platen 13 and the paper-apron 17. The platen 13 is rotatably mounted by means of a platenthe insertion of a new one.

axle 18, journaled' in a platemframe 19 in the usual manner. Paper-feed-rolls 20 cooperate with the platen 13 for feeding the checks A and the record-sheet B, and may be cast off by means shown in the patent to Wagner, No. 794,437, dated July 11, 1905,

of the kind usually provided in Underwood typewriters. C

An auxiliary ribbon 21, arranged to'pass between the main ribbon 10 and the platen 13 to print" upon the record-sheet B, is mounted upon and controlledby mechanism like that disclosed in the application of Kurowski referred to above.- An auxiliary ribbon-frame, comprising end plates 22'and a rock-shaft 23 journaled in the platenframe 19, supports ribbon-spools 24 just beyond the ends of the platen 13 for rotation about transverse horizontal axes. The auxiliary ribbon 21 passes from one of the spools 24 through a guide 25 at one end of the platen, thence across the front of the platen through a similar guide 25 at the opposite end thereof and onto the other spool 24. At the line-spacing of the platen 13 to. advance the check A and the record sheet B following the typing of the first line. on a check, mechanism disclosed in the abovementioned Kurowski application is -operated to lift the auxiliary ribbon-frame to move the auxiliary ribbon 21 to an ineffective position, and the ribbon-feeding mechanism is actuated at the sameoperation to feed the auxiliary ribbon 21. The secondline on the check A is'then written, after which the main feed-rolls 20 are cast off to permit the removal of the finished check and When the new check has been inserted, the main feed-rolls 20 are again made effective, and, by the same operation, the auxiliary ribbon 21 is automatically lowered to effective position.

In accordance with the present invention, provision is made of ribbon-guides 26 for holding the auxiliary ribbon 21 down close to the platen 13when the auxiliary-ribbonframe' is swung to render said ribbon ineffective. d

Each ribbon-guide 26 has bearings 27 supporting a paper-feeding and paper-holding roll 28, and .is mounted on a bracket 29 rotatable upon a rod or rock-shaft 30 located above the platen 13. This rod 30 is itself mounted for rotation in a manner to bedescribed, to swing the guides 26 and clamping rolls 28 away from the platen when desired, but is normally yieldingly detained in position to render the guides 26 and rolls2'8 effective. Each bracket 29 comprises a U' shaped bearing member 31, including legs 32 rotatably received on the rod 30, and a guide-supportingmember 33 havmg a portion 34 by which it is attached to the bearing mc'mber31, a laterally-extending portion. 35 to which the guides 26 are attached by screws 8 the yokes 36, aidownwardly-extending portion 37, and

'a' shelf portion 38 for guiding the record- I sheet away from the platen. The bearing memberj3l of the bracket'29 is mounted between collars 39 and 40 made fast on the rod by screws 41 and 42, respectively. A coil-spring 43, surrounding the rod, is attached at one end to a collar 44 fast on the i platen 13 to permit rod 30 and is connected at the other end to an arm of the bearing member 31 to urge it in a direction to press the guide 26 toward the platen, which cooperates with the guide in controlling the ribbon 21; the vguidepieces serving as fenders to ward off the auxiliary ribbon from the pathor course by the. statement-sheets as tl'ifey are inserted at the front of-the platen. The head of the screw- 41 is made large to serve as an abutment to engage the arm 45 and limit rotation of the bracket 29 relatively to the rod 30. The arrangement is such that the roll28 is,

normally pressed against theplaten 13 with considerable force by the spring 43, the en 'gagement of the roll with the platen acting to swing the arm 45 out of'engageme'nt with the head of the screw 41 against the forceof the spring 43. The guide 26 and the roll 28 carried'b roll spaces tie travel of the auxiliary ribbon 21'between effective and ineffective positions.

The auxiliary ribbon-spools 24 prevent the I direct connection of the rod 30- to the ends ment with the bearinrr members 48 of the 'yokes.

Rotation of the yokes 47 therefore rotates the rod 30 about its own axis. VV-hen springs 43 and to'cause yieldingly 4 out of engagement with the platen,

it is'deslred to withdraw. the ribbon-guides 26, and the rolls 28 carried by them, fromtheplat'en, the yokes 47 may be used as handles to rotate the rod 30, It is at this stage,

when the clamping rolls 28 are to be swung that the screw-heads 41 engage the arms 45 off the brackets 29 to limit the unwinding of the the guides 26 to be swung with the rod 30.- The bearings 48 of 47 have key-waysadaptedto receive keys 50 pressed by bow springs 51to maintain the ribbon-guides 26 and their rolls 28 effective.

For positioning checks chine, there is provided a front aligning plate 52, which mayalso be mounted on the rod 30. The aligning. plate is mounted on U-shaped bearing members 53, rotatable on the rod 30 and haviqg -keys 54 p1-esed by itare so arranged that the guide far enough from the and an underlying record-sheet may detain the rod 30. in position to.

inserted in the mabow springs 55 into a key-way 56 in the rod 30 to yieldingly prevent rotation of the aligning plate'relatively to the rod. Fingerieces 57 are provided, however, for swing- 1I1g the aligning plate 52 relatively to the rod torender the record-sheet B accessible for erasures. The aligning plate 52 includes a side-edge gage 58 and leading-edge gage members 59. The latter members, 59, intersect the face of the aligning plate 52 at obtuse angles and are rounded so as not to interfere with the feeding forward of a check A after it has been operatively positioned; The aligning plate 52 is slidable along the rod 30 to adjust the side gage 58 in position to correctly locate checks of any dcsired'width. It is desirable to, locate the ribbon-guides 26 beyond the side edges of the checks so that they will not interfere with theinsert-ion of the checks in the machine, but 1t.is also desirable to locate them as near to the side edges of the checks as practicable,

so that thestretch ofrthe auxiliary ribbon 21 d between them will be short. 'P-rovision is made, accordingly; of a large number of holes .60 in the supportingbrackets 29 for receivingthe screws 36 by which the guides are attached guides 26" may be adjusted in accordance with the width of the checks and the position of the aligning plate 52.

The record-sheet B is guided into the machine from the rearvby adjustable side guides 61 on an extension 62 of the-rear paper-shelf 63, which extension is secured to the platen frame 19 by a rod 64 and brackets 65. The

vertically extending portions 37 of the brackets 29 may be used in co-operation with the side guides 61 atthe rear of the machine to accurately locate the record-sheet. The aligning plate 52 at the front of the machine co-operates with these record-sheet guides to locate,each check as it is inserted in the machine in predetermined relation to the record-sheet.

' Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the, improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my inventlon, I claim:

1, In-a typewriting tion, a platen around machine, in combinawhich a check-sheet be disposed intyping position, a main vibrating ribbon for typing on said check-sheet, an auxiliary under-ribbon normally disposed at the printing line between said check-sheet and said record-sheet, means for shifting said auxiliary ribbon upwardly to an inoperative position, and ribbon-fenders for. warding oflf said auxiliary ribbon, said fenders disposed above the printing line of said platen, and said fenders guiding the ribbon close to said platen whereby a new check-sheet may be inserted at the front of to the brackets 29, so that the i said platen without danger of fouling said auxiliaryribbon. Y

2. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a carriage, a platen around whichv a check-sheet and an underlying record-sheet may be disposed in typing position, a main vibrating ribbon for typing on said checksheet, an auxiliary under-ribbon normallyv disposed at the printing line between said check-sheet and said record-sheet, a frame on said carriage for supporting said auxil 'iary ribbon at the printing line, said frame 7 being displaceable' to move sa d auxilary ribbon upwardly to an'inoperative position, and ribbon-fenders supported on said carriage between the ends of said'platen for platen.

Zribbon, vibratory at each type-impression,

3. In a typ'ewriting"machine, in combination, -a platen, typing elements, a main an auxiliary ribbon to cover the lon itudinal printing line, means for shifting t e auxlliary ribbon upwardly from effective to: in-

effective typing position, guides for .the auxiliary ribbon to maintain it in unlform proximity to the platen at both shift positions, rolls on the ribbon-guides positioned 'above the ineffective position of said auxiliary ribbon to engage a worksheet and'hold it stationary, and means for pressin the ribbon-guides and rollstoward the p aten,

the rolls serving to space the ribbon-guides a working distance from the platen to promote a free movement of the auxiliary ribbon between itseffective and ineffective positions. 4. A typewriting machine including a carriage and a. platen, typing elements, a frame supported by thecarriage, a'ribbon carried by the frame to cover the longitudinal printing line of the platen, said frame being shift-.

able. to render the ribbon operative or inoperative to the types. a rock-shaft sup ported by the carriage, ribbon-guides secured to the rock-shaft and co-operating with the platen 'to hold the ribbon parallel to and closely against the platen at both frameshift positions, and means on said guides for spacing them a working distance from .the platen. p

5. In a typewriting machine, a revoluble platen. an inking ribbon zextendinglength I wise of the-platen and movable from typing positionupwardly to ineffective position,; guides for said ribbon adjacent the platen,"

supports for the guides, a rock-shaft on which the, guide-supports are pivotallymounted. means for yieldingly latching said rock-shaft ineffective position, springs tending to rotate the guide-supports relatively: to said rock-shaft to press thefguides toward the platen, and rolls on said "guides and en;

gageable with the platen'to hold the guides;

spaced from'the platen to guide the ribbon close to the platen, said guides being swing- "mounted for rotation about transverse, horizontal axes adjacent the ends of the platen,

guides mounted adjacent the platen'to guide the'ribbomarod above the platen. and 'between. the ribbon spools for supporting the tendingv around the ribbon spools andpivoted on tlie ends of the platen-frame,'sai'd yokeguides, and yoke-supports fo1' tlie rod ex supportsserving' also as handles for swing- 'ing the rod to raise the guides. j

-7. In a typewriting machine, a platenframe, a revoliible platen therein, ribbon mechanism comprising ribbon spools .mounted for rotationabout transverse horizontal axes adjacent the oppositeends of the platen, guides mounted adjacent the platen .to maintain the-ribbon in proximity-to the platen, a rod above the-platen and between the ribbon spools for-supporting the guides, and yoke-snpportsfor the rod extending around the ribbon spools and having aligned v ifbearings pivoted on the opposite-ends of theplaten-frame, the rod being held by the yoke-supports in alignment with their bear- .ings so that-rotation .of the supports Will swing the rod about a common axis.

8. In a typewriting machine, aplaten frame, arevoluble platen therein, guides adjace nt the platen to serve as guides for a ribbon and for the'margins of a work-sheet on the platen, paper-holding rolls carried by the-guides to bear against saidwork-' sheet, a rod .above the platen for support ing theguides and holding the rolls, a ribhon-supply spool mounted between eachend of the rod and the ends of the platen-frame, and yoke-"supports; for the rod to extendaround the ribbon-spools and be supported at the ends of the platen-frame.

9. In a typewr'iting machine, a platenframe, a revoluble platen therein, guides adjacent the platen to serve as guides for. a ribbon and for the margins of a work-sheet 'on the platen, papjenholdi'ng rolls carried by the guides to bear against said worksheet, a rodabove the platen for supporting to the platen, and springs for each guide to work-sheet under pressure.

. and ribbon :to an inoperative position.

. to swingwithinthe carriage,

10. In a typewriting machine, a platen frame, a revoluble platen therein, guides adjacent the platen to serve as guides for a ribbon and for the margins of a work-sheet on the platen, paper-holding rolls carried by the guides to bear against said Worksheet, a rod above the platen for supporting the guides and holding the rolls, a ribbon- "supply spool mounted between each end of the rod and the ends of the platen-frame, yoke-supports for each end of the rod that are pivotally mounted upon the ends of the platen-frame, means yieldingly' detaining the yokes against rotation to hold the guides in proximity to the platen, springs tending to swing the guides around the rod toward the platen, and means on the rod to limit the action of said springs as the rod is turned to lift the guides and rolls.

11. In a typewriting machine, a platen- 'frame,-a'revoluble platen therein, guides adjacent the platento serve as guides for a ribbon and for the margins of a work-sheet on the platen, paper-holding rolls carried by the guides to bear against said Work-sheet, a rod above the platen for supporting the guides and holding the rolls, a ribbon-spool mounted between-each end of the rod and the ends of the vplaten-frame, yoke-supports for each end of the rod that are pivotally mounted on the ends of the platen-frame,

means yieldingly locking the yokes in .nor-

mal position to hold the guides in proximity to the platen, and springs connected to the rod and to said guides and arranged to press the rolls carried by the guides against the work-sheet.

12. In a typewriting machine, a platen,

a shiftable ribbon disposed longitudinally of the platen, ribbon-guides to overlie the ribbon and the side margins of a worksheet on the platen, a rod mounted in the carriage-ends to supportthe guides, springs for individually forcing the guides toward the platen, paper-holding means carried by the guides tov bear against the side edges of the work-sheet and rovide a free working space for the ribbon etween the guides and the Work-sheet, and

1,3. A typewriting."machine including a carriage and a platen, typing elements, a main ribbon to cover the printing position at each type-impression, a frame supported a pair of vertically-disposed ribbon-s ools carried by the frame, an a'uxiliar ri bon carried by the spools, ribbon-guidzs carried by the frame to direct the ribbon lengthwise of theplaten from, spool to spool and cover and uncover the printing the frame, a rod above the platen between to swing within the carriage, a pair of cally-disposed ribbon-spools.carr ied by the means to raise the guides ,the carriage-ends, and a-roll-carryin mounted upon the rod adjacent eac line by a swinging movement of p the two spools, yokesseeured to each end of the rod to pass around the spool and take bearings within the carriage-ends, and

means mounted upon the'rod, adjacent the inner ends of each yoke, to bear against the face of the platen and-overhang the front face of the auxiliary ribbon.

14. A typewriting machine including a carriage and ,a platen, typing elements,

a main ribbon to cover the printing position at each type-in'ipression, a frame supported to swing within the carriage, a pair of vertically-disposed ribbon-spools carried by the frame, an auxiliary ribbon carried by the spools, ribbon-guides carried by the frame to direct the ribbon lengthwise of the platen from spool to spool and cover and uncover the printing line bya swinging movement of the frame, a rod above the platen between the two spools, yokes secured to'each'end of the rod to pass around the spool and take bearings within the carriage-ends, and a roll-carrying guide mounted upon the rod adjacent -each yoke, the roll thereof to bear against the face of the platen and the guide to overhang the auxiliary ribbon.

15. In a typewriting machine, a platenframe, a revoluble platen'therein, guides adjacent the platen to serve as guides for a ribbon and for the margins of a wide worksheet on the platen, paper-holding rolls carried by the guides to bear against said worksheet, laterally disposed supports for the guides, a rod above the platen on which the guide-supports are journaled, collars fastened on said rod on each side of said supports to hold them securely in position, springs connected to the rod and to said supports and arranged to press the rolls carried by the guides against the work-sheet, and means foradjusting the guides laterally along their supports to adapt them-to work'- sheetsv of different widths.

carriage and a platen, typing elements, a

llO

main ribbon to cover the printing position at each type-impression, a frame supported vertibraking means for each spool to'preframe, 7

free rotationthereof, an auxiliary vent a ribbon carried above the platen between the twospools,

bfyr the spools, ribbon-guides 1 carried by the ame to direct the ribbonyokes secured to eachend-of therod' to pass around the spool and take bearings guide y ke,

within the guide overhanging the auxiliary'ribbon' and the roll bearing against the face of the latento determine the degree .of separation between the guide and the face of the-platen,

l'l'. typewriting machinepa 'revoluble platen, a shiftable ribbon, guides to hold the ribbon adjacent the. platen at either shift position, a laterally disposed -carrier for each ribbon-guide',a rod on which the carriers are rotatably mounted, a sprung connected to each gu1de-carrie1: and to therod for swinging. the guides toward the platen, and cooperating means on the guides and their carriers for securmg the guldes to thelr carriers at laterally variable posit ons,

18. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, work-feeding means, and an aligning plate formed with a leading-edge gage and a side-edge gage to locate the work in predetermined accurate relation t0 the platen, the'leading-edge gage being "constructed with ia con'vex rounded surface whose axis isi pa'rall'el with the axis of said platen'to-facilitatefthe feeding forward'of the work over theleading-edge gage.

, 5,19, typewriting' machineincluding a carriage -and a .platemf-typing 'elenr1en ts a main ribbon to "cover the printing position 1 the printing line by a swinging movement 'to swing 'withinthecarria e,.a pair of vertically-disposed ribbon-spec scarried by the at each type-impressiomia frame supported frame,;a'n auxiliary ribbon carried by the spools, ribbon-guides carried bytheframe to direct the ribbon lengthwise of the platen .from spool tospool and cover-and uncover of the frame, a rod above the platen between the two spools, thep'osition thereofbeing eccentric'to the axis of the spools, 'yokes secured to each end 'of the rod to pass around the spool'and take bearin s within the car'- riag e-ends, and ribbon-gui ing means mounted upon'the rod adjacent each yoke and formed with a curvature ,radialwith the platen to overhang the auxiliary ribbon, to

' hold the ribbon a uniform distance from the platen. during the shifting movement of the frame. v 20. In a typewriting machine, in combina tion, a carriage, a revoluble platen, a front -aligning plate having a sidegage for 10- Inallydetaining the rod against rotation, I

and means for swinging the rod to raisethe worksheet-holding meansand the aligning plate fromthe platen in unison. w

21. 'Inat'ypewriting machine, in combina tion, a 'revoluble platen, work holding and I feeding means bearing against the platen, a

ztrontaligning plate above the platen and between'the work-holding means,ja' rod carrying both the work-holding and the aligning plate and operable. to swing the 'ali'gning plate and work-holding means to inefl'ective I positions in unisoman'd interlocking means betweenthe aligning plate and the rod whereby the aligningplate may be raised to an ineffective position independently of the -w0rk-holding means: f

frame, a revoluble platen therein, guides. for

an auxiliary ribbon disposed adjacent'the .pla'ten, a rod journaled above the platen by I which the guides are carried, springs connectingsaid rod and guides'to urgethe latter towardthe platen, an arm for each of said 1 guides. for. swinging it upwardly about said rod against the action of its spring, and

screw heads. on the rod cooperating with said arms on the guides to limit the movement of 22.,Iii a typewriting machine, 1 3, platen the latter in the direction in which they are x pressed by said springs, whereby all of: said guides may be swung upwardly together: to

.permit said ribbon to be moved away from said platen for inserting .a work-sheet under 'sa id ribbon.

' esse A. B. sMi'TH; 

